I just picked 4 of these phones up 2 for my parents that live in Pigeon Forge / Gatlinburg area and 2 for my wife and I. Here in Corryton on Shipe Rd. between Millertown Pk. and Washington Pk., We get about 2 bars in the house, 3+ outside. We have had ALL other phone services in the past 8 years. NONE have been as good as Verizon, Not to say we didn't like some phones better than others, but you can't have good service and good phone. unless you live directly in a MAJOR city and NEVER travel then you can get both. But My parents live in the middle of NOWHERE Pigeon Forge, TN. With Nextel - NO SERVICE With AT&T - 1 Bar average AT&T / Cingular - 1 bar average Sprint - 1 bar if sitting outside holding phone in air facing one direction Now I just got VERIZON tonight and I talked to my parents ALL the way home from Knoxville until they hit the end button at their front door. First time I was able to talk to them that long EVER on a cell phone. They live about 3 miles or so from the main drag of Pigeon Forge and NO OTHER service ever cameclose to allowing them to talk on the little back roads of Sevier Co. all the way to their FRONT DOOR. Good job Verizon. I just hope that they don't add ALL those little charges on my bill like everyone else does. We have 15 days to decide about the service, lets see if it works in Gatlinburg near Pittman Center. That will be the true deciding point.